"Pushed by an Approaching Subway"... Another Tragedy for Asian Women in New York

The suspect is a 61-year-old man with a prior robbery conviction and a history of mental illness
He stuck out his tongue mockingly while being taken into custody

A view of the New York City subway. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Park] An Asian woman was pushed onto the subway tracks and killed at the Times Square subway station in New York, USA.

According to local media including the New York Post on the 15th (local time), around 9:40 a.m., a Black man pushed an Asian woman waiting for the train at the subway station between Times Square and 42nd Street.

The victim, who fell onto the tracks toward the train, died at the scene. Her nationality or origin has not been confirmed, but she is known to be 40 years old.

The suspect, Marshall Simon (61), fled the scene but was later caught by the police. He has been arrested three times since 1998 and served two years in prison for robbery, being released in August last year. He has been receiving medication for mental illness for the past 20 years and was reportedly hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital.

The police described Simon as "talking nonsense and not being normal." Simon’s younger sister also stated, "My brother has a history of mental illness, has been taking medication for over 20 years, and has been hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital in New York."

After his arrest, Simon mocked the press and police by sticking out his tongue while being taken away.

The incident has deeply shocked American citizens and Asian Americans. Previously, in July last year, an Asian woman was attacked by a Black man in the New York subway, fell into a coma, and later died.

Following the incident, a Chinese American organization in New York issued a statement condemning anti-Asian hate crimes, appealing, "Another terrible incident has occurred. We must create safe streets and subways for all citizens, including Asian women."